New Year, New Ways to Get Involved with Volunteer Wheeling

Volunteer Wheeling, Wheeling Heritage’s volunteer program, invites the community to attend its 2024 volunteer kick off meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held on the third floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main Street, Wheeling., WV. This is an opportunity for interested individuals to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities, as well as have participants share their ideas for projects they would like to see happen in Wheeling.

“The New Year brings, for a lot of us, a search for new opportunities and a desire to make a difference,” said Ellen Gano, Wheeling Heritage board vice-chair and Volunteer Wheeling founder. “With all that’s happening in Wheeling now, we’re hoping that folks may want to see what we’re all about and consider supporting the revitalization of our city by volunteering through Volunteer Wheeling.”

Volunteer Wheeling began as a grassroots effort led by Ellen Gano. Upon retirement, Gano returned to her hometown of Wheeling with the goal of giving back to the community. In the years that followed, Volunteer Wheeling has grown into a cohort of dedicated volunteers who have orchestrated several community cleanup events, created a pocket park in Market Plaza, and hosted the city’s dog themed festival called FidoFest. Looking ahead to 2024, Volunteer Wheeling seeks to expand its impact by engaging more individuals who want to lend their time in talent in new ways.

“We know that there are people in our community who want to make a difference but aren’t quite sure how to get involved. Volunteer Wheeling is a great outlet for folks who want to make positive change in Wheeling,” said Alex Panas, program manager for Wheeling Heritage. “Everyone has a special talent that they can share to better our community, and we are looking forward to identifying new ways to utilize them through this event.”

At the event, Volunteer Wheeling organizers will briefly share some of their recent initiatives, as well as upcoming volunteer opportunities. Attendees will then have a chance to brainstorm new projects and initiatives through facilitated breakout sessions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up to be on one of three Volunteer Wheeling committees, which will help put plans into action in 2024 and beyond.

Anyone with an interest in volunteering is encouraged to attend. To learn more about Volunteer Wheeling, visit wheelingheritage.org/volunteer.

About Wheeling Heritage:
Wheeling Heritage is a catalyst for the revitalization of Wheeling. Through historic preservation, community development, and the arts, we help to tell Wheeling’s story and shape its future. We seek to improve the quality of life in Wheeling by preserving and investing in our city, collaborating with others, and engaging the citizens of Wheeling in our work.